Girls golf: Thiets, Kaul lead the way for Ponies

FOREST LAKE — The Stillwater girls’ golf team placed fourth in Thursday’s Suburban East Conference meet at Tanners Brook Golf Course, which is also the site of the Section 4AA tournament on May 28.

The Ponies recorded a score of 171 to finish behind Forest Lake and East Ridge — who posted matching 165s — and third-place Woodbury, which finished at 167.

“We really saw some good things,” Ponies coach Nate Schwarz said. “We shot our lowest round of the year and, somehow, lost to Forest Lake, East Ridge and Woodbury.”

The scores were low across the board, with 10 players shooting 40 or better.

Erin Thiets and Anna Kaul each shot 41 while Leah Kroenning and Amanda Wolf were not far behind at 43 and 46. In fact, all six Ponies posted scores in the 40s with Maddie Luoma carding a 48 and Sydney O’Neal one shot back with a 49.

“Thiets played well,” Schwarz said. “She is only getting stronger and that knee looks good. Anna Kaul is hitting her stride and getting better. Sydney O’Neal is only getting better as well — and she will only get better the next two weeks. Things look good for us and we’re ready for the section.”

l The Stillwater JV team finished third on Thursday with a score of 189, just three shots behind Forest Lake (186) and one behind runner-up Mounds View (188).

Katie Clark led the Ponies with a 51 and Sarah Niesen followed with a 51. According to Schwarz, Rachel Billingsley’s 52 include a near hole-in-one.